On the topic of Coolio and Stevie Wonder being nominated for an academy award for the song "Gansta's Paradise"... it wasn't eligible.

From what I've learned, only "original songs" written specifically for a movie are eligible.

"Gangsta's Paradise's" lyrics were somewhat original, but not the music. The music was taken from the song "Pastime Paradise" from Stevie's album "Songs In the Key Of Life" written roughly 20 years prior to the movie "Dangerous Minds'" release, and the lyrics are a complete play on that song... hence, it's nonsubmission for "Best Song" catagory.

"Lose Yourself" however, was specifically written musically and lyricly for the film "8 mile". He actually wrote it during the filming process.




(enter Movie name edit )
[This message was edited Thu Mar 27 0:58:57 PST 2003 by June7]

Supernova said:

Of course Eminem is an anomaly yet he's one which is placed on pedestal as hip-hop's greatest achievement and crowning glory near enough. So while he may be in a massive minority ethnically speaking he gets a massive majority of the praise.

No hip-hop head I know would even rate him in an all time top twenty MC list...

abierman said:

has your Journey with Black Rappers lead you to think they all talk about Bitches,Ho's&Bling-Bling??? Public Enemy didn't go that route nor did KRS-One nor Arrested Devlopment,etc.. but Eminem talks about Gays like it's going out of business&Name Drops Every Artist on the TRL Count-Down so I guess that isn't extreme??I think He is a Pretty good Rapper that also Can Flow,Witty,Charming&Cleaver but not the Greatest thing since SLice-Bread.also He is Talented but He knows that If He was Black He would have About the Same Career Longevity as Slick Rick,Biz Markie&ODB Combined&that is Pretty Good Combined but not Half the level He is at.I Don't go for Certain Rappers Bling-Bling all the time,but I also look&Laughing in Amusement a Rapper dissing N-Synch,Limp Bizket,Brittney&Christina.I say go after Nas,Snoop,Jay Z,or Scarface then we can truly see what kind of Game you truly Got??

mistermaxxx said:

This is true.

June7 said:

whats funny is..that when he talked about jennifer lopez puffy said he called him and told him and said he wasnt disrespecting him blah blah blah...he goes after easy targets sometimes

but its all entertaining tho eheh

abierman said:

I feel your comments are loaded but that aside, Eminem is at least as one dimensional as those you criticise. Isn't anybody tired of his constant packaged anguish regarding his mother, wife and easy target celebrities yet?

Essence said:

You are totally right, Eminem is not there yet! The big question is: what is he going to do next? After the Slim Shady LP, Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show (and 8 Mile) he has more or less covered his life. I think that after his touring he will take a break. He will have to re-invent himself on a new album, this will be the test for him as an artist.

He will write a couple more hit albums, some will be considered his artistic best... he will then shock the world by changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol, sue his record company, alienate all his fans and friends, marry a 16 year old, start his own label, drop off the charts...

then people will start a web site about him called slim.org. It's a vicious circle.

June7 said:

June7 said:

You Need a Light Night Show MAN!!! LOL!!!

Essence said:

He's Eminem, NOT Elvis. Awards, acclaim, popularity, #1 albums, etc. have been bestowed on different Black rappers for a while now. Blacks are not being shut out. It's not like there is a current influx of White rappers taking over in the mainstream while relegating Black rappers back to the chitlin circuit while all the co-opting White rappers get the credit for the creation of a genre, a la Elvis and other White rockers compared to Black rock and roll pioneers of the 50s.

There are real issues in music that shouldn't be ignored at the expense of one White rapper who happens to be at the center of the zeitgeist right now. Nobody has said that in terms of the powers that be that he's not benefitting because of his skin color. But my point is it's not like Black rappers are being neglected when it comes to big mainstream success either. He doesn't seem to have the proclivity to evolve from beig a one trick pony so far, and if that's the case I doubt he'll occupy the same glaring spotlight for long. Obviously I always want to see credit where it's due when it comes to pioneers (if I had my way Public Enemy would never be out of the spotlight like they are now), but at the same time I try to be objective and see things as they are instead of falling back on the same old tired excuses that don't necessarily apply to every situation where there are different races involved.

abierman said:

And Eminem talking about murdering both of his parents and the mother of his child makes him better because of ... what?


Oops. Essence... I partly spoke too soon. :O

If it were up to me, Eazy-E would be alive and rappin' now. He was/is the best rapper I have ever heard, period.
No one... NO ONE, will ever compare. This is not a black and white statement... just a statement of fact.

But Eazy E is dead...

8 Mile is just like Purple Rain in that fans of Eminem think its the true story of his life, just like Prince fans think Purple Rain is the true story of Prince's life. Ppl who knew Eminem back in the day say the movie shows him being raised in a hood that is a lot more poor than he really was. It's myth building and marketing, not truth but middle America accepts that movie as the gospel truth.

To say that Eminem is the only rapper who raps about life and misery while black rappers are all about bling bling, bitches, and cars shows that the myth building of Eminem is working.

abierman said:

The only reason "Lose Yourself" was even considered for a nomination is beacuse of the ability for the majority (White folks) to relate to the artist. That made them more willing to consider it. If, let's say, Nelly or Ja Rule did the exact same song, the same way, it would not have been nominated

Oh, and not that this matters really, but I heard Kim Cattral(sp?) say she didn't become interested in rap until she saw 8 mile. Why do you think that is? Hello? Because he was White

Janfriend said:

Right, Eminem's sales even dwarf the mainstream friendly Nelly & Ja Rule. As I always say Eminem (and maybe D-12 too. haha) form many the entirety of a "hip-hop fan's" hip-hop collection.

June7 said:

I got Madd Props for Eazy E. Because He truly was about His Business&also Opened up the Gates.He was Cool.

Joshy84au said:

exactly!

Y'all just need to lose y'self...



(the who cares edit! )
[This message was edited Mon Mar 31 20:57:14 PST 2003 by June7]